Watch Time Vs Retention Time

JohnnyFox

JohnnyFox

STAY SMOKEY PEOPLE!
Someone explain the difference in the two. Same tags, description, thumbnail etc.

20 Minute Video = 100 Views @ 50% watch time = 1000 minutes watched

Vs

2 Minute Video = 100 Views @ 100% watch time = 200 Minutes viewed

What does all this mean to ranking? Which one ranks higher and what determines the related videos section?

Also do playlists take away any value due to automatically playing the next video?
 
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According to a quick Google search, YouTube checks watch time, so the more minutes watched the better.
 
Watch time isn't calculated on how many minutes of a video is watched, your video could be watched for 2 seconds and be at the top of the searches, Its unlikely but possible.

Watch time is the amount of time a user spends watching content in one session. So really watch time is increased by you having a big influence on other platforms and driving people to youtube to start their viewing session.

If a user opens their browser and goes to youtube, and your video is the first video they watch then their watch time starts on that video, then every video they watch after that is factored into their watch time. Doesnt matter if they are your videos or not, every single video watched whilst that browser tab is left open, is now under your watch time.

Watch time = Youtube viewer session
Audience retention = The amount of time they actually spent watching your videos

They are 2 different things

This is why big, already established people usually have videos at the top of the search rankings. Its because they already have a huge influence that drives users to youtube that then start a viewer session. So as soon as they post their videos on social media, their fans watch that video, then watch other youtuber videos. This puts their watch time through the roof.


Obviously this isnt the only factor in how SEO works, but that is how watch time works. You can still get videos high up in the search rankings by working on all aspects of SEO.


Not even sure if people will understand this lol but i tried.
 
TheBatteryChicken said:
Watch time isn't calculated on how many minutes of a video is watched, your video could be watched for 2 seconds and be at the top of the searches, Its unlikely but possible.

Watch time is the amount of time a user spends watching content in one session. So really watch time is increased by you having a big influence on other platforms and driving people to youtube to start their viewing session.

If a user opens their browser and goes to youtube, and your video is the first video they watch then their watch time starts on that video, then every video they watch after that is factored into their watch time. Doesnt matter if they are your videos or not, every single video watched whilst that browser tab is left open, is now under your watch time.

Watch time = Youtube viewer session
Audience retention = The amount of time they actually spent watching your videos

They are 2 different things

This is why big, already established people usually have videos at the top of the search rankings. Its because they already have a huge influence that drives users to youtube that then start a viewer session. So as soon as they post their videos on social media, their fans watch that video, then watch other youtuber videos. This puts their watch time through the roof.


Obviously this isnt the only factor in how SEO works, but that is how watch time works. You can still get videos high up in the search rankings by working on all aspects of SEO.


Not even sure if people will understand this lol but i tried.
Click to expand...

Makes sense. I gotta do something to get better watch time. I mean i'm not doing horrible but my retention is absolutely s**t. Like 19% on my longer videos. That is s**t.
 
TheBatteryChicken said:
Watch time isn't calculated on how many minutes of a video is watched, your video could be watched for 2 seconds and be at the top of the searches, Its unlikely but possible.

Watch time is the amount of time a user spends watching content in one session. So really watch time is increased by you having a big influence on other platforms and driving people to youtube to start their viewing session.

If a user opens their browser and goes to youtube, and your video is the first video they watch then their watch time starts on that video, then every video they watch after that is factored into their watch time. Doesnt matter if they are your videos or not, every single video watched whilst that browser tab is left open, is now under your watch time.

Watch time = Youtube viewer session
Audience retention = The amount of time they actually spent watching your videos

They are 2 different things

This is why big, already established people usually have videos at the top of the search rankings. Its because they already have a huge influence that drives users to youtube that then start a viewer session. So as soon as they post their videos on social media, their fans watch that video, then watch other youtuber videos. This puts their watch time through the roof.


Obviously this isnt the only factor in how SEO works, but that is how watch time works. You can still get videos high up in the search rankings by working on all aspects of SEO.


Not even sure if people will understand this lol but i tried.
Click to expand...

Wow, I honestly didn't even know that it worked like that. O_O Thanks for the in depth description.
 
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